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UNITED STATES Trieso i ATTLNT CHARLES C. SCHMITT, CF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LIBRARY STEP-LADDER.

To ail 'whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. SCHMITT, of the city, county, and Stateoi' New York, have invented a new and Improved Step-Ladder; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to makeand use the same.

This invention consists in a novel arrangement, in connection with asuitable stand or frame, of a series of steps, so that when not desiredto use them they can be swung or folded up in a very compact form withinthe said stand, and thus out of the way, such arrangement of steps beingespecially intended for use in private libraries, drawing-rooms, lawyersand other offices, as well as many other places, in which a neat,convenient, and compact step-ladder is desirable.

In accompanying plate of drawings my improved library step-ladder isillustrated, Figure l bein a transverse vertical section of the sainewith the steps opened; and Fig. 2 a similar section, but with the stepsclosed 0r shut up.

a a in the drawings represent a stand or frame, consisting of fourupright posts, n, connected together by a series ot' cross-ties, c, attheir upper ends and at or near their lower ends, the frame having aboard, d, secured to and across its top.

f, g, and h are a series ot' steps attached and arranged together andwithin the frame a as follows: rIhe lower one, f, ot the series movesand slides in and out at each end in a groove, L', of each end portionof the frame a, formed by two horizontal and parallel cleat pieces orstrips, l Z, attached to the fra-me, and has at its two outer cornerssupporting-legs m m. On the back edge ot' this step j' is a strip, n,that, as the step is drawn out, abuts against one of the cross-bars c ofthe frame a, so as to prevent the step t'rom being drawn out too far.

Arranged above the step j', and so as to be parallel with it whenopened, and equidistant from it and each other, are the other two steps,g and h, the iirst of which, g, is connected and supported at each ofits outer corners by supports o to and upon the lower steps f, whichsupports o are hinged at their lower and upper ends, respectively, tothe steps f and g. The inner edge of the step g is hinged to thecross-bar c2 of the frame in such a manner that it will swing down, itresting by its inner edge upon such cross-bar c2 when opened, as plainlyseen in Fig. l. The upper one, h, ot' the series of steps is similarlyhinged at its inner edge, and supported bythe cross-bar c3 ot the frame,suitably placed therefor to that described for the intermedia-te step,g, and is connected to the same at each end upon its outer edge byconnectingstrips pp, pivoted at its upper and lower ends, respectively,to the steps h and g, which strips p p serve as supports to the steps hwhen opened, as is plainly represented in the drawings.

Vhen not desired to use the steps, by sliding the lower one, f, ot' theseries into the frame moving in the guiding grooves or -ways provided'or it, it is obvious, from the manner in which the steps g and h aboveare connected with it through the arrangement of parts described, thatthey will be swung down and into a vertical position upon such side ofthe frame as they are arranged 4into the compact form and shape shown inFig. 2, the steps thus being all incased within or by the frame a,entirely out ofthe way.

To open the steps, when so desired, it is only necessary to pullout thelowe1one,f,when the others connected with it, as explained, will beswung up into the proper position, forming a series ot' steps, as shownin Fig. 1, sufficiently strong and rigid for use.

The number ot' steps of which the step-ladder is to be composed may beincreased indefinitely, and yet be susceptible of being folded up withintheir frame, by simply connecting them to the next below in a similarmanner to that described for the upper one, h, of the series shown; butI deem three to be sufficient for the purposes forv which my inventionis especially intended, as hereinbefore stated.

The frame for the steps may be also ornamented and constructed in avariety of styles and forms, and may be with much advantage providedwith a series 'of drawers upon its back side, and therefore I do notintend to any suitable frame, substantially as herein limit myself toany particular oonstruetionhor described, and so as to operate asspecified.

form in which it is to be made, the present in- The above specificationof my invention Vention consisting only in the peculiar mansignerl byine this 7th dey of November, 1865. ner in which the steps are connectedwith it CHARLES C SCHMITT and together.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure Vitnesses:

by Letters Patent, is- ALBERT W. BROWN, The arrangement of 2L series ofsteps Within M. M. LIVINGSTON.

